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Real Hipsters of Vancouver casting for new reality show

Hipster — a loaded term often describing someone unemployed but trendy, with a penchant for terrible beer, ironic facial hair, plaid, skinny jeans and obscure cultural tastes — has multiple meanings, and hardly anyone can agree to what a hipster really is. Most importantly, no self-respecting hipster will admit to being one. (File photo.)

Photograph by: Adam Berry / Getty Images
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Within three days of announcing the casting call for a pilot, the Real Hipsters of Vancouver reality show received a hundred audition tapes, several potential offers of financial backing from production companies and a whirlwind of media attention.

Pretty good for a bunch of hipsters, a subculture notorious for not doing much at all.

But that’s the perception producer and creator Britt Irvin wants to change, along with her partner and friend Jesse Haddock.

“We’re not only looking for people who would look interesting on the show, but people who have a dream they’re following. They’re stylists and artists. They’re pursuing something,” said Irvin, 28, who makes a living as an actor.

Some of her friends were interested in participating, but casting decisions could now be jointly made with a production company if a deal is made, Irvin said. Shooting would begin this summer.

They haven’t gone through all the applications — which started pouring in within a few hours of the notice posted on Craigslist on Sunday night — but a few potential “real hipsters” have stood out: A 24-year-old girl who has a job but lives in her van by choice, and a man whose occupation is “professional partier.” The casting call was for “hip, fun, attractive people under 40.” Most applicants were in their early 20s, but “aging hipster” is an interesting subcategory as well, she said.

The Real Hipsters will adopt the formula that’s proven successful on other shows like the Real Housewives franchise, which also films in Vancouver: Take six or seven charismatic men and women from different backgrounds, add alcohol and pressure-filled situations.

“If you put a group of people together who are competitive and fiery, there’s going to be drama,” Irvin said.

But it will also showcase a more “grassroots” side of Vancouver, far from West Van mansions and ritzy restaurants, following hipsters around Gastown, Mount Pleasant and Commercial Drive.

“I think it’s a great stage for local businesses, musicians and artists, vintage shops and other retail stores to show the other side of Vancouver,” she said. “Having independent coffee shops and restaurants and bars that have some character as opposed to the downtown Vancouver scene, which is unaffordable to a lot of people our age and people in the art community.”

Reality TV began more than a decade ago and everyone thought it would be a flash in the pan, Irvin said. That’s not unlike the concept of hipster itself — which has been declared “over” by various publications in the last few years.

Hipster — a loaded term often describing someone unemployed but trendy, with a penchant for terrible beer, ironic facial hair, plaid, skinny jeans and obscure cultural tastes — has multiple meanings, and hardly anyone can agree to what a hipster really is. Most importantly, no self-respecting hipster will admit to being one.

Hipster — a loaded term often describing someone unemployed but trendy, with a penchant for terrible beer, ironic facial hair, plaid, skinny jeans and obscure cultural tastes — has multiple meanings, and hardly anyone can agree to what a hipster really is. Most importantly, no self-respecting hipster will admit to being one. (File photo.)

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